'Missed Samonte' bags the Best Short Film Award at IISFF 2013
Dated : 28 March 2013

A six days of film screening at the Second Imphal International Short Film Festival 2013 ends today with a formal function. Mohen Naorem, festival founder and Director of Imphal International Short Film Festival has announced the award at the closing day. MISSED SAMONTE, a short film from Philippines won the Best Short Film. North East Indian based filmmaker Lovita J R Morang's documentary named VIRGIN RHODODENDRON BURNT ALIVE was declared the BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM while BEST DIRECTOR Award goes to Grant Orchard from USA for his Academy Award Nominated short film A MORNING STROLL.

31 films are awarded in different categories while another 15 films are selected to represent Imphal Film festival in various International Film festivals this year. In the concluding speech, Mohen Naorem announced the possibility of granting short films by Legend Studio and making every possible way to invite independent filmmakers from the country to come and make feature films, shorts and documentaries. He also informed the filmmakers to come again in the next edition where the participating filmmakers will be given the opportunity to make regional films like Manipuri, Assamese and other languages.

The festival was organised by Legend Studio Manipur and supported by Action for Social Advancement (ASA), Manipur and Film Forum Manipur organized the 2nd Imphal International Short Film Festival 2013 with the motto "Bigger picture in shorts" at the College of Agriculture (CAU), Iroisemba on 23rd March 2013 with the opening film CELLO, a Japanese short film was shown in a pack auditorium hall of College of Agriculture, CAU, Imphal.

In what is expected to boost filmmaking in northeast region, the Legend Studio in the Manipur has decided to support independent filmmakers in making films and documentaries.

Director of the Legend Studio, Mohen Naorem, the organiser of the Imphal International Short Film Festival said this Friday while announcing the awards for the Second Imphal International Short Film Festival (IISFF), which started at the Manipur capital on March 23. "From next time on, we are going to give opportunity to the participating filmmakers of the festival to make regional films like Manipuri, Assamese and in other languages. We are also going to provide them with some grants for the purpose," said Naorem while adding that the move is initiated to boost regional filmmaking in the northeast.

The festival which was opened on 23rd March screened short films including silent films and films of Korea, Spain, Bangladesh, Japan, Argentina, Iran, Russia, Georgia, Marathi, USA, UK, UAE, Australia and Philippines and in languages like Urdu, Kannada, Meeteilon, Bengali, Tamil, English, Malayalam, Altogether 80 short films like The Hell (Korean), Kanaveegal (Tamil), Illusions (Tamil), Mazhayoooppam Mayunnathu (Malayalam), She (Spanish), Corner (English), Pizzasin (Bangladeshi), The Future (Australian), June (Bengali) and Eibu Eida Thiba (Meeteilon) were screened at the festival.

Other short films like Mr Bear (USA), The Truth Behind (Silent Film), Love at First Sight (UK), Luminaris (Argentine), Once Upon a Sultan (Urdu), Rangi (Kannada), The Eyes of Miracle (Iran), 1937 (Russia), April Chill (Georgian) and Missed Samonte (Filipino) are also being showcased.

A total of 200 entries were received out of which only 150 films were shortlisted. 80 films were selected to screen to the audience. The festival is a successful event after comparing the number of entries received this time. In the first edition of Imphal International Short Film festival, only 62 films were received, out of which 15 films are foreign films, 29 are regional and 18 are Hindi films. Last time also the organiser could not make arrangement to screen the 18 Hindi short films for general public due to ban on Hindi films by some outfits.

"We are worried the second edition of the festival will be a poor performance after the banned on Hindi films screening in our festival. However, this time also we received 24 Hindi films which is much higher than the last edition." Mohen said.

Last time only 6 filmmakers attended the event, this time 15 filmmakers attended the event which is a good sign of success and few of them are returning filmmakers from the last edition.

Mohen Naorem
Festival Director
IISFF
Manipur
www.imphalfilmfestival.org